Blog: Connecting Faith that Works

by Omar Reyes

Isaiah 58 “…And if you give yourself to the hungry and satisfy the desire of the afflicted. Then your light will rise in darkness and your gloom will become midday”

The connection of faith and works is missing in contemporary religion. People are finding out how limiting pure private religion is. There is a connection between faith and works; a spirituality of social responsibility. People are asking if faith works!

Isaiah suggests that it is impossible to separate the desire for personal growth from the call for social responsibility. The health and well being of our soul is of the utmost importance, yet can they ever be independent of the health and well being of the world, or the well-being of my neighbor. Read more

Blog: What Does It Mean To Be A Disciple?

by Bob Roberts Jr.

A disciple is another word for a student or a follower of a teacher. As Jesus followers we are to be disciples and make disciples. For the past few decades discipleship has been all about “learn, grow, and go”. In other words, when you get everything down right, you have answered all the questions, you begin to grow and then you can serve God. This isn’t how the early church made disciples. Discipleship is “hear and obey” God. If that’s your definition of discipleship, it is a game changer in terms of how you make disciples. How and why?

First, a disciple must have a connection with God where they can hear God speak. They need to hear him in the Word of God, in prayer, in community, and other ways. Listening, more than memorizing becomes the chief skill of a disciple. Learning about prayer, and, not just learning about – but spending time in prayer, is an absolute necessity. Seeing the Bible not just as a book of information, but as a living book that will speak to specific situations in people’s lives is critical. How well do you hear God? How do you hear him? Have you substituted information for transformation and communication? Read more